Erin, I am so sorry. You are a great wife and a great stepmom. Ignore anyone who says differently, and keep your attitude on for the rest.

So, had my Tino meeting. Tino claims that I was "grossly negligent" (and only a court can determine that, "which obviously we don't want to deal with")...never mind that that would mean I deliberately tried to hurt my laptop or that I could care less about consequences. He also claims that he thinks some faculty members don't care about their laptops because "you all got them for free" and that the only way to get faculty to care is to "put some skin on it" for them. He was quick to assure me that I am not one of "those people," but I was still "grossly negligent" in having a lit candle "anywhere near the laptop." Yeah. Tino also says that the law Java directed me towards is "only for wage deductions" (which may well be true, but I would be forever grateful if a Buffista lawyer type could confirm that for me), so a business does have the right to charge its employees for "negligent damage."

That said, he's willing to compromise and have me send a check for $300 to "take some responsibility" for my negligence. I took the deal, because really, what choice do I have? At least it's much better than $1100. He also plans to put a policy in writing for next year for faculty members, because "We expected it from kids, but we never thought that faculty would be so careless."

I was able to speak with authority about ND and my own small business and how we have dealt with these types of situations, and I just love that he tried to claim that this WHOLE SCHOOL is also a small business. Because, right. That's the same thing and me, ND, our one full time employee, and the part time people we bring in from time to time for bigger projects.

Anyway, it's resolved. Just a really bittersweet way to end the year.

Not that I'm actually done. 67 exams to grade and participation/skills comments to post.

She is...problematic at her worst. And I have been assured that these last 2 years have been relatively sane years.

I am so rarely an overreactor. I will come over here and vent, or to my friends, but I generally am pretty chill. I don't see the need to freak out about some of the stuff she does.

Everything is a drama. I hang with a pretty mellow, drama-free crowd of friends. On purpose. I like Buffistas because, despite occasional flare-ups, people are a civil, thoughtful crowd. And I understand that there are problems to be dealt with, but all the flailing, and bitchingn and emergency sessions of fucking Congress, emotional blackmail...ugh.

(Plus, and this is pure, selfish, shallow whine -- I got hit with this right when I walked through the door. I didn't even get to enjoy being DONE with school except on the drive home. AND I'm pissed at her about that, too.)

You, Pix, were gracious and fabulous. Tino was a schmuck.

I hope something itchy invades his underwear drawer. All summer.

Ugh, I just read that, Pix. I am less gracious than you or Barb.

Mood I'm in, you fly me to LA, and I'll punch him in the crunchy parts. What a supercilious ass.

Although I AM glad you didn't have to pay $1100.

I so wish I could afford to buy you a ticket, Erin, but I have to give that money to Tino. Fucker.

It just kills me that ND and I have eaten thousands of dollars of business loss between damage to equipment and work trucks and lost tools, yet never asked for a cent from those employees because they were doing a job for us in good faith. If someone truly was grossly negligent, then we might pursue it, but certainly not when it was a genuine accident (even if they were being stupid at the time). I can pretty much guarantee that our small business can afford it a whole hell of a lot less than my school. Seriously.

I hope something itchy invades his underwear drawer.

A pox upon his fruit of the loom!

I mentioned I'm friends with the head of IT at Poly, right Pix? He says their policy is that the teacher has to pay for the damaged laptop.

But:

in reality every time something like that's happened we've not enforced the policy. One of our faculty drove over his laptop with his car, another spilled "tea" which was clearly beer all over his.

Thanks, Raq. Also, HI!!! Missed you!

Pix that sucks.

Erin I hate that there are parents out there like M's mom but you are a good step mom and it's unreasonable to ask you and D to move.

Vermont is still bill board free. When Will and I drove into NY I saw a bilboard and did a double take at the strange thing with advertising on it.

This means, though, if you are on the interstate you have to pay attention to the state signs with the Food,Lodging, Gas symbols. There aren't any giant billboards advertising "McDonald's in 10.5 miles!" "McDonald's in 7 miles!" "McDonald's TURN NOW For Big Mac!"

Also there are state (or city I'm not sure who pays for it) signs with businesses' names and mileage. Nice little green signs with white text an arrow point the direction and "Hank's Propane 2 Miles" or "Maple City Candy .5 Mile".

Pix, I'm sorry. The laptop situation sucks.

Erin, you're obviously a good step-mom. I'm sorry you're in such a difficult situation. I hate seeing children used as pawns, and it sounds like that is what M's mom is doing.